A Guide to Online Therapy in Utah

Introduction

Since the pandemic, mental health issues have been exacerbated across the world, and the United States is no exception. Experts feel that loneliness, social isolation, and low esteem are the causative agents of depressive thinking. 

While that’s true, additionally, the United States has witnessed a decline in communication, healthy relationship mastery, and community contribution over the years. These have diminished a sense of belonging, support, and meaning in the already-unhealthy American lifestyle. 

Although the mental health crisis looms large over the country, some states are more affected than others. The CDC data from June 2023 estimating nationwide depression rates place Utah in the 6th position, with nearly 23.1% of adults diagnosed with depression. 

The failing mental health condition has instigated the Utah residents to reclaim their well-being. That’s why online therapy in Utah is gaining prominence. 

Let’s dig into the situation and seek answers to why Utah needs online therapy. 

Why do you need online therapy Utah? 

As mentioned earlier, Utah is combating a mental health crisis. A collaborative study by the notable Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and the Utah Hospital Association found several issues.

• Close to one in three adults in Utah suffer from some sort of mental illness. A study by NiceRx found out that nearly 29.65% of Utahns are currently suffering from mental health disorders.
• The demand for youth mental support is also increasing. Close to 15% of males and 28.5% of females considered attempting suicide. All of them were aged 15-17 years.
• With a rapidly growing state population, Utah suffers from a huge shortage of mental health practitioners. They have far fewer mental health providers per 100,000 people compared to the national average. 
• The funding for Utah’s public healthcare system is bifurcated, with more money being siphoned in physical and chronic health issues. This makes it complicated to deliver coordinated mental health care and support to those in need.
• There’s a limitation in commercial health insurance coverage when it comes to mental health problems. That’s why therapy often becomes inaccessible due to very high out-of-pocket costs.

Let’s check out some more harrowing statistics that prove that Utah is in desperate need of convenient mental health care and support.

• Almost 66 Utahns encounter a traumatic brain injury every day, which aggravates the risk of mental health issues.
• Nearly 13% of all suicides in Utah are committed by veterans.
• Almost 15% of new mothers in Utah experience postpartum depression, and the rates increase to 21% when they are from the low-income segment.
• 40% of the depressed young adults in Utah don’t receive proper treatment. 

But what are the gaps and barriers to achieving ideal mental health care in Utah? Let’s find out.

• There’s a shortage of resources and flexibility in offering ideal mental health care and support.
• The stigma surrounding mental health is rampant.
• There’s a tremendous shortage in the workforce and this leads to limited access to services.
• There are also some restrictions in funding streams that prevent providers from offering appropriate and timely care.
• The Forensic bed classifications overtake the available State hospital beds.
• A lack of collaborative systems.
• Free-for-service (FFS) reimbursements make it difficult to offer preventive care and a full range of physical and behavioral health services.

Therefore, judging all of the above issues, online therapy seems the best possible option.

Why is online therapy Utah the best possible mode of mental health care in the State?

When it comes to those who are offering online therapy Utah, this is the most plausible option. Why? 

• Online therapy Utah can be provided by private healthcare startups, which are often funded by VC money, and there’s no need for State or National intervention when it comes to funding. 
• Since online therapy relies mostly on internet-facing gadgets and not a lot on manual labor, hence the workforce shortages in mental health care won’t pose a significant challenge.

The Utahns who are suffering constantly from a lack of proper mental health care and treatments can benefit from online therapy Utah. How?

• Online therapy is also one of the most flexible modes of mental health treatment, as patients can seek therapy from the comfort of their homes. They don’t need to navigate hours of congestion and transportation issues if they are from parts of Southern Utah like Springdale or from the northeastern parts of Utah Lake like Springville, Mapleton, and the Spanish Fork.

Instead, they can schedule online therapy sessions at their preferred hours of the day and connect with their favorite therapists. 

• In-person visits can be overwhelming for a lot of mental health patients. Additionally, getting their slots booked, talking to the support staff,  waiting long periods behind queues, etc., can also be emotionally and physically draining. 

Online therapy lets you choose your therapists depending on their profiles and your conditions. You can also defer your appointments, switch your schedules, modes of therapy, as well as therapists, with maximum ease.

• Online therapy sessions in Utah are significantly cheaper compared to in-person sessions. A lot of these online therapy platforms also support insurance coverage. Some of them, like BetterHelp, have their own special aid program which makes your therapy costs affordable.

Top platforms offering online therapy Utah

If you’re looking to explore online therapy Utah for yourself or a loved one, you’ve come to the perfect place. Here, we have made a comprehensive list of the best platforms offering online therapy and counseling services in Utah.

So, you can take your pick from below without any hesitation. We have done comprehensive background research for you.

Online-Therapy.com

If you’re searching for quality yet affordable therapy options in Utah, this is one of the best platforms to seek help from. It offers both individual and couples therapy. 

According to Verywell Mind, this platform has been voted as the best online therapy platform for anxiety in 2022. It offers superlative, evidence-based therapy grounded in CBT at very reasonable rates.

Pricing for therapy sessions usually ranges from $40-$88 per week.

Read our complete review Online Therapy.com

BetterHelp

With a massive pool of credentialed therapists from across the globe, BetterHelp is one of the pioneers of 100% online therapy. It has been successfully offering individual, couples, and teen therapy to its patients for a long time. 

Easy session scheduling, matching with your ideal therapists, and accessing therapy via chat sessions, text messages, phone, and video sessions are some of the upsides of getting care from BetterHelp.

The cost of therapy is also very affordable. Weekly therapy is typically priced between $65-$90 and is billed monthly. 

Talkspace

Like the other top online therapy platforms discussed here, Talkspace enables you to stay in touch with a licensed therapist and approach recovery. Apart from individual, couples, and teen therapy, Talkspace also specializes in offering psychiatry services and prescribing medication for your conditions. 

Apart from private asynchronous messaging, video calls, and phone-based therapy sessions, Talkspace often hosts workshops on mental health and well-being.

The cost of therapy typically ranges from $60-$109 per week. 

Nora Mental Health

Nora Mental Health is one of the topmost private therapy providers in Utah.

Offering a range of services from individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, marriage counseling, adolescent and child services, etc., this platform has made its name as both an offline and online therapy provider in Utah.

Nora Mental Health also specializes in medication management and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Is online therapy Utah the right fit for you?

Before you make up your mind to seek online therapy, assess the condition you’re suffering from. If it is depression, anxiety, mood disorders, etc., then online therapy could be the ideal choice for you. 

In fact, a study found out that online counseling interventions are almost as effective as face-to-face counseling for university students suffering from anxiety, depression, OCD, etc., during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

But when you’re suffering from grave mental health problems like psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia), personality disorders (like BPD), or trauma-related disorders (like PTSD), it is extremely important for you to seek in-person therapy. There are several cues that your therapist needs to pick out from your physical presence, which will accelerate your treatments.

Even in cases like substance abuse disorders or when you’re having terrible thoughts of suicide, you must seek out in-person therapy. If you’re struggling or in a crisis, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. 

Final thoughts  

It’s true that Utah is going through one of the major mental health crises in the entire country. However, online therapy Utah shines a ray of hope during these troubled times. 

Still, you must understand that online therapy can never be a substitute for in-person therapy. It is only a more convenient form of the same. 

So, if you’re suffering from any grave mental condition, assess yourself and understand its nature. Following this, seek out the mode of therapy that best suits you.